May Day today

The historic May Day will be observed today in the country as elsewhere in the world with a renewed pledge to protect the rights of workers and create a labour-friendly working atmosphere.
The day is observed across the world every year since 1886 commemorating the supreme sacrifices of workers at the Hay Market in the United States to establish the rights of eight-hour working day and with a renewed pledge to uphold the rights of working class.
Many working people sacrificed their lives on May 1, 1886 and the following days during series of movements, bomb attacks, riots and police actions on agitating workers while they were on a three-day strike at Hay Market in Chicago.
The Hay Market incident was a source of inspiration for people around the globe. As such, May Day has become an international celebration of the social and economic achievements of the labour movement.
The day is a public holiday.
President Zillur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in separate messages greeted the working class people of the country and wished their overall welfare, reports BSS.
Zillur said safe environment-friendly working atmosphere, living wages, training, raising benefits and facilities and friendly owner-worker relations are necessary for establishing the rights of workers and ensuring their welfare.
Hasina, in her message, has called for forging unity between owners and workers, and show mutual respect and compassion to build a “Digital Bangladesh,” reports UNB.
“Forge unity between owners and workers, build Digital Bangladesh,” she said.
Leader of the Opposition and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia also congratulated the working class people on the occasion of May Day.
In her message, she alleged that the government’s wrong policy and extortion by ruling party activists led to the closure of many mills and factories leaving thousands of workers jobless.
The prime minister will open the May Day programmes at 10:00am in the Osmani Memorial Hall. The programmes include discussion, seminar, cultural function and a three-day fair.
Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television (BTV) will air the inaugural programmes live from the Osmani Memorial Hall.
Labour and Employment Ministry has undertaken a three-day colourful programme to observe the day at the state level.
A colourful rally will be brought out at 8:00am from the premises of Shrama Bhaban in Motijheel area. Labour and Employment and Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Engineer Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain will lead the rally.
Newspapers will publish special supplements, while Bangladesh Betar, BTV and private TV channels will air special programmes highlighting the significance of the day.
Different political and labour organisations, particularly the labour wings of political parties, professional bodies and cultural organisations have chalked out elaborate programmes to celebrate the day.

Courtesy of The Daily Star